The term "froward" is used in the Bible to describe a person who is habitually disobedient, perverse, or contrary in their ways. It is often associated with a rebellious spirit that resists guidance and correction. The word appears primarily in the Old Testament and is used to characterize individuals who deviate from the path of righteousness and wisdom.

Biblical Usage and Context

In the Berean Standard Bible , the term "froward" is used to describe those who are morally and spiritually wayward. It is often contrasted with the righteous and upright, highlighting the stark difference between those who follow God's commandments and those who choose their own rebellious paths.

One of the key verses that mention the froward is found in Proverbs 2:15, which speaks of those "whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious." This verse underscores the idea that frowardness is not just a matter of occasional missteps but a deliberate choice to walk in ways that are contrary to God's will.

Proverbs 3:32 states, "For the froward are an abomination to the LORD, but He is a friend to the upright." This verse emphasizes the Lord's disdain for those who are froward, as their actions and attitudes are in direct opposition to His nature and commands. The froward are seen as abominable because they reject the wisdom and guidance that come from a relationship with God.

Characteristics of the Froward

The froward are often described as having a perverse heart, one that is inclined towards evil rather than good. Proverbs 6:12-14 provides a vivid description: "A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. With deceit in his heart, he devises evil; he continually sows discord." This passage illustrates the deceitful and divisive nature of the froward, who use their words and actions to lead others astray.

The froward are also marked by their resistance to correction and discipline. Proverbs 10:31-32 contrasts the speech of the righteous with that of the froward: "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse." This highlights the destructive nature of froward speech, which is ultimately silenced by its own folly.

Spiritual Implications

From a spiritual perspective, frowardness is a serious condition that separates individuals from the blessings and favor of God. It is a manifestation of a heart that is not aligned with God's purposes and is resistant to His transformative work. The froward are often self-reliant, trusting in their own understanding rather than seeking the wisdom that comes from above.

The Bible warns against associating with the froward, as their influence can lead others into similar patterns of disobedience and rebellion. Proverbs 22:24-25 advises, "Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare." This counsel serves as a reminder of the importance of surrounding oneself with those who encourage righteousness and godliness.

Conclusion

While the Bible clearly condemns frowardness, it also offers hope for transformation. Through repentance and submission to God's will, even the most froward heart can be renewed and restored. The call to turn away from frowardness is ultimately an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from walking in obedience to God.(a.) Not willing to yield or comply with what is required or is reasonable; perverse; disobedient; peevish; as, a froward child.4646. skolios -- curved, winding, hence crooked
... crooked, froward, untoward. From the base of skelos; warped, ie Winding; figuratively,
perverse -- crooked, froward, untoward. see GREEK skelos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4646.htm - 7k2019. haphakpak -- crooked
... Word Origin from haphak Definition crooked NASB Word Usage crooked (1). froward.
By reduplication from haphak; very perverse -- froward. see HEBREW haphak. ...
/hebrew/2019.htm - 6k

6143. iqqeshuth -- crookedness
... Word Origin from aqash Definition crookedness NASB Word Usage deceitful (1), perverse
(1). froward. From iqqesh; perversity -- X froward. see HEBREW iqqesh. ...
/hebrew/6143.htm - 6k

3868. luz -- to turn aside, depart
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to turn aside, depart NASB Word Usage depart
(1), devious (3), guile (1), vanish (1). depart, froward, perverseness. ...
/hebrew/3868.htm - 6k

6141. iqqesh -- twisted, perverted
... crooked, froward, perverse. From aqash; distorted; hence, false -- crooked, froward,
perverse. see HEBREW aqash. 6140, 6141. iqqesh. 6142 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6141.htm - 6k

6617. pathal -- to twist
... root Definition to twist NASB Word Usage crooked (1), cunning (1), show yourself
astute (2), wrestled (1). show self froward, show self unsavoury, wrestle. ...
/hebrew/6617.htm - 6k

8419. tahpukah -- perversity, perverse thing
... procession. From haphak; a perversity or fraud -- (very) froward(-ness, thing),
perverse thing. see HEBREW haphak. 8418, 8419. tahpukah. 8420 . ...
/hebrew/8419.htm - 6k

8420. tav -- a mark
... 8419, 8420. tav. 8420a . a mark. Transliteration: tav Phonetic Spelling: (tawv)
Short Definition: frowardness. very froward thing, perverse thing ...
/hebrew/8420.htm - 5k

Quiet, Lord, My Froward Heart:
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCXXVII Quiet, LORD, my froward heart:
Make me teachable and mild, Upright, simple, free from art,". ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/ccxxvii quiet lord my froward.htm

"And this is his Commandment," &C.
... commandment," &c. There are different tempers of mind among men, some more
smooth and pliable, others more refractory and froward. Some ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon iii and this is.htm

Psalm XVIII.
... [539]. 27. "And with the chosen Thou shalt be chosen." (ver.26). And by him whom
Thou choosest, Thou art chosen. "And with the froward Thou shalt be froward ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xviii.htm

A Bundle of Proverbs
... A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.29. ... The 'froward
man' here seems to be the same as the slanderer in the next clause. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a bundle of proverbs.htm

The Disputes of the Faithful to be Settled by the Decisions of the ...
... cross-grained to you." [2788] And elsewhere: "With the holy Thou wilt be holy, and
with the perfect man Thou wilt be perfect, and with the froward Thou wilt be ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec vi the disputes of the.htm

A Dialogue with God
... The divine character is many-sided, and whilst 'to the pure' it 'shows itself pure,'
it cannot but be that 'to the froward' it 'will show itself froward ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a dialogue with god 2.htm

Ahab and Micaiah
... It is because God is love, that 'to the froward He shows Himself froward.' and opposes
that which, unopposed and yielded to, will ruin the man that does it. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/ahab and micaiah.htm

Light or Fire?
... Him not. They are contrary to Him, therefore He is so to them. 'With the
froward Thou wilt show Thyself froward.'. The final Judgment ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/light or fire.htm

That we are to Live with the Good, but to Avoid the Evil.
... Also in the seventeenth Psalm: "With the righteous Thou shalt be justified; and
with the innocent man Thou shalt be innocent; and with the froward man Thou ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/95 that we are to.htm

Psalm 18
... to upright men upright: ^26Pure to the pure, froward thou kyth'st. unto the froward
wight. ^27For thou wilt the afflicted save. in grief that low do lie: ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 18.htm

Froward (21 Occurrences)
... (a.) Not willing to yield or comply with what is required or is reasonable; perverse;
disobedient; peevish; as, a froward child. ...Froward (21 Occurrences). ...
/f/froward.htm - 11k

Naughty (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.) hence, corrupt; wicked. 4. (superl.) Mischievous; perverse; froward;
guilty of disobedient or improper conduct; as, a naughty child. Int. ...
/n/naughty.htm - 9k

Subtle (5 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV). 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And
with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. (See JPS). ...
/s/subtle.htm - 11k

Perverse (55 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure thou wilt
show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. ...
/p/perverse.htm - 22k

Contend (56 Occurrences)
... anointed." (See NAS). 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure thou wilt show thyself
pure; and with the froward thou wilt contend. (WBS). 2 Kings ...
/c/contend.htm - 24k

Frost (9 Occurrences)

/f/frost.htm - 14k

Unsavory (3 Occurrences)
... Unsavory (3 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure;
and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory. (KJV). ...
/u/unsavory.htm - 7k

Wink (2 Occurrences)
... So also Psalm 35:19: "Neither let them wink with the eye that hate roe without a
cause." "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with froward mouth. ...
/w/wink.htm - 9k

Wayward (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward; perverse;
willful. Multi-Version Concordance Wayward (14 Occurrences). ...
/w/wayward.htm - 9k

Frowardly (1 Occurrence)

/f/frowardly.htm - 6k

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